The Arlington Flame. April Pastor Lee Bushweiler (Office) (Cell)

Transcription

1 ARLINGTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH PO BOX 140 ARLINGTON, WI April 2016 The Arlington Flame Pastor Lee Bushweiler (Office) (Cell) PASTOR S OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday 11am 4pm Wednesday noon 6pm WEEKLY EVENTS Worship Service 10:00am Sunday Devotional Study 10:00am Tuesday Adult Study 3:00pm Wednesday *Additions, Corrections or Submitting to the newsletter: Angela Ullrich, newsletter@arlingtonumchurch.org 4:30pm-5:30pm Wednesday Saturday

2 April 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 10am Worship Service Office Hours 11am-4pm Office Hours noon-6pm 9am-10:30am am - Worship 10am - Bible Study at Helen Thompson s NO Office Hours noon-6pm Office Hours 3:00pm Bible Study 4:30pm-5:30pm NO UMW TODAY 5:45pm Euchre Party am - Worship 11am WEM meets 10am - Bible Study at Helen Thompson s 11am-4pm Office Hours 7pm Administrative Council 2pm-6pm Office Hours 3:00pm Bible Study 4:30pm-5:30pm am - Worship 11am Pantry Board 10am - Bible Study at Helen Thompson s 11am-4pm Office Hours noon-6pm Office Hours 3:00pm Bible Study 4:30pm-5:30pm am - Worship 11am SPRC meets 10am - Bible Study at Helen Thompson s 11am-4pm Office Hours noon-6pm Office Hours 3:00pm Bible Study 4:30pm-5:30pm

3 BIRTHDAYS and ANNIVERSARIES We would like to wish a very Happy Birthday to everyone who has a birthday this month. Let us know if we have missed anyone. Birthdays Maryann Schultz 3rd Dennis Lainberger 5th Justin Conroy 6th Michaela Stewart 10th Jan Millard 10th Keith Sturm 21st Joyce Youngs 29th Anniversaries Marv and Connie Powers 15th Conway and Mary Schmidt 24th CHURCH BULLETIN BOARD The church bulletin board is full of information and events for you to look at when you come to church. A number of area churches have events to participate in, including bingo, dinners and educational events. If you have an event or information you would like posted, please pass it on to Pastor Lee and he will make certain it is posted and passed on for inclusion in the church newsletter. CHURCH WEBSITE We are adding to the church website, so take a look if you haven t in a while. You can hear past sermons, make contributions, and find out what is scheduled at the church. Please let us know if you d like any special information to be available or if we have missed something useful. Please visit: arlingtonumchurch.org "Christian, remember the goodness of God in the frost of adversity." - Charles H. Spurgeon

4 A NOTE OF THANKS The family of LaVerne Youngs would like to thank everyone who a ended the funeral and helped with the luncheon and worked in the kitchen. The family appreciates all the ministry that you provided them. There will be a Celebra on of Life service for Vern at their home church in Illinois on April 23rd at 4pm. Anyone who would like to a end can contact Joyce for details. UMW The April 9th meeting has been cancelled. UMW will plan to meet in May. FOOD PANTRY NEWS Thank you to everyone that has been helping with the in one way or another. We couldn t do this ministry without you. Notes from your Treasurer: I am grateful for those of you who are so consistent in your giving. The balance in the checkbook and savings con nue to grow as me progresses. We have almost $6,000 in Appor onments that will be paid to Conference before June 1, This will significantly impact the checking account balance. However, paying the appor onments early in the year has always been important to this group of believers. It is a tradi on that we will con nue to up hold as God provides for us. Mother Nature has been kind over the last two winters and our snow plowing bills have not exceeded the budget amount. Treasurers always appreciate the budget staying balanced. The Christmas Eve Offering of $655 is being donated to six different mission projects through Rainbow Covenant. We are so blessed, it is a pleasure to share what God has given to us. Also many thanks to each of you who have assisted in coun ng the offering on Sunday mornings. I understand the me commitment and truly do appreciate your giving in this way. Un l next me, Teresa

5 Youth and Young Adults Needed at Annual Conference We are now accepting registration for youth (age 14-17) and young adults (18-29) to attend Annual Conference this June. We are hoping to have three youth and three young adults from each district. Youth and young adults pay $50, and the Conference will provide the remaining costs of hotel, food, and registration. Interested youth or young adults should check with Sharon Cook prior to registering at or We are looking for youth who display leadership skills or interest in how the church functions. We ask you to pay particular attention to whether these youth are able to pay attention during long plenary sessions, to think critically about agenda items, and to behave in a manner that reflects well on the Conference Youth Council. Although we have time for fellowship, by and large, our youth will have the same agenda that adult attendees have. Take a Trip to the Holy Land this Spring Join Rev. Joan Deming in visiting Peacemakers in Israel/Palestine, May 20-June 2 this spring. Meet the "Living Stones" of Palestine and Israel during a 2-week listening/study tour, organized by Pilgrims of Ibillin. Visit Holy Sites and Living Stones." We'll meet with Archbishop Elias Chacour, stay 4 days at his schools in Ibillin, and meet with vital organizations in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Zababdeh, Ramle, and Ibillin. You'll learn directly from leaders in the West Bank and Israel who are seeking a nonviolent path to peace. With questions, contact Joan Deming at WI United Methodist Camps h p:// Register Now! CLASS OF 2016 RETIREES WI CONFERENCE UMC (ADDITION) Zekoff, Steven E. FE ABLC-A 40 years Entered UM Ministry in Iowa Conf; PM,D 1976; FM,E 1978; Appts: Dir, Lake Okoboji Camp 1976; Perry (Assoc) 2/1/1978; Dir, Camping, Wis Conf, 3/15/1979; Trans to Wis Conf 1980; Appts: Dir of Camping, Wis Conf 1980; Associate Council Director (3/4 time) 1/1/1988; Sc 1989; Sab 1991; Sc 1992; Assistant Risk Mgr, General Council on Finance and Administration 7/16/1992; Associate Risk Manager, Risk Management Dept., GCFA 11/1/1995; Assistant General Secretary, GCFA, 9/1996; Whitefish Bay 1/2006; Project Director, Flood Recovery, Wisconsin Conference 10/1/2009; Conference Benefits Officer, Wisconsin Conference 10/1/2010

6 Join Bishop Jung's Interfaith Bus Tour and Retreat Bishop Hee-Soo Jung invites you to join with him on an Interfaith Bus Tour of religious centers in the Madison vicinity, followed by an Interfaith Retreat. During the tour on Saturday, Aug. 13, we will listen to a presentation by the teacher of the Deer Park Buddhist Monastery, visit Temple Beth El to learn about Jewish worship, pray and enter into discussion at the Islamic Community of Madison, visit the American Hindu Association Shiva Vishnu Temple, and join in discussion and evening prayer at the Gurudwara Sahib Sikh Temple in Middleton. On Sunday, Aug. 14, we will hold an Interfaith Retreat at Holy Wisdom Monastery. We will listen to and dialog with three leaders (Jewish, Islamic, and Buddhist) about our religious responses to violence, and conclude with an interfaith service of spiritual meditation and prayer. Call to register. Immigration Issues Will Be Addressed at GC2016 Keeping families together has long been at the heart of the Church s mission with refugees and immigrants. Legislation before the denomination s top lawmaking body supports immigration reform, but United Methodists are already tackling the issue in the courts and by helping individuals. Kathy L. Gilbert reports After Brussels Attack, Missioning with Fear For one young adult serving as a United Methodist mission volunteer in Brussels, the deadly terrorist attacks on the city s airport and subway system have led to a new description of his ministry: missioning in fear. He and religious leaders around the world reflect on the fear that terrorism inflicts, but also on God s hope for peace.

7 On Sunday, May 15, 2016, Christian churches celebrate Pentecost. For Christians, Pentecost occurs fifty days after Easter. On that day, the church celebrates the happenings recorded in the New Testament Book of Acts, chapter 2. Notice when you go into church on Pentecost Sunday, the changes in colors in the sanctuary. Red is the color of Pentecost, and it signifies the tongues of flames seen over the heads of those praying together. The Scripture also tells us that the sound of the blowing of a violent wind filled the house where Jesus followers were praying. In addition to the color red, churches often display tongues of flame and symbols of wind on banners and posters. In Scripture, we read that the believers were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to go into the streets telling of Jesus to all those they met. Following Peter s sermon, many were baptized, and the church began to grow. Because of this, we call Pentecost the birthday of the church. While having home observances for Christmas and Easter is common, Pentecost often goes unobserved in our homes. However, without Pentecost, we wouldn t have the church. It is worthwhile to spend time in family devotions and celebrations for this church holy day that helps us remember how the church began. What can you do in your family to observe Pentecost? Read together Acts 2:1-40. Ask each family member to tell of one thing he or she will try to remember from the Scripture reading. Pretend you are Peter and are delivering that first sermon. What would you say to people today to help them understand the message of Jesus? Make a Pentecost cake to celebrate the birth of the church. Tint icing red and decorate. Place candles in clusters to symbolize the flames. Enjoy wind activities together. Make and fly a kite. Sit outside at dusk and feel the wind on your faces. Blow bubbles and watch as the wind carries them in the air. Visit an older member of your church. Ask your church friend to tell you about memories of how the church started, memories of Sunday school, and memories of people who were important to his or her faith formation. Decorate your home by making red banners, posters, or pictures. Attend worship on Pentecost Sunday and wear something red. Use the following prayer as part of your home devotions: Gracious God. We are reminded again when the first believers in Jesus were given the courage to tell others about Jesus. We believe you give us that same courage to tell others about Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. You know, O God, that sometimes we are fearful and we feel alone. But just like that Pentecost long ago, we, too, are surrounded by your love and presence. Help us live in such a way that others see in us a reflection of your love. Help us have the courage to tell others about the difference it makes in our lives to trust in your love and care. Help us see those around who want to be in the fellowship of Christians. Help us to witness to one another so that we grow in faith. Through the power of your Holy Spirit and the witness of your son, Jesus the Christ, we pray today. Amen Family Devotions and Observance of Pentecost by Rev. MaryJane Pierce Norton Photo: Copyright 123RF Stock Photo

8 A NOTE FROM THE PASTOR We made it through Easter, and I been blessed to spend this past weekend helping reevaluate the church s conference-wide insurance plan while it snowed. It was a fitting use of time for an April s Fools day weekend! All joking aside, one of the necessary steps that all Christians take, and that all of their ministries must take, is to be certain that we have adequately protected the tools of ministry we have been blessed to share. Please don t think that I m talking about protecting our gifts for ministry. Those we spend freely so that ministry happens. Christians can be guilty of hoarding resources and planning for the future, while sacrificing everything that is happening in the present. Christians live like farmers, saving some of the fruits of the harvest to sow the following year. But most crops are not designed to be stored for decades or centuries without being sown... that practice leads to spoiled seed. The practice I m talking about is taking adequate protection to make certain that our gifts are used in ministry. Our treasurer sent a note that failed to make it into last month s newsletter, but can be found in these pages. In it, she offers thanks to those of you who have helped in counting the monies that we receive for offering. There are a number of you who continue to make the building and grounds of this church inviting to our neighbors and friends. Many of you also help in planning for the care and maintenance of our facilities. Others continue to assist with all of the administrative tasks that make our church able to do ministry. One of the most important things we do is gather on Sundays and during the week to nurture ourselves and each other. The studies and fellowship opportunities we have allow us to be prepared to face the world and do ministry. Just like insurance protects our facilities and people against catastrophic financial loss that would end their ministry, so does training protect our hearts and minds. As we stress each Sunday, financial gifts make a huge difference in our ministry they keep lights on, keep the doors open, and make everything else possible. But the finances are only part of what we do. Ministry takes ministers and that is all of us working together. We each have gifts and we each have callings, but we all serve one God through the effort of our church. And we can t do that without being prepared first, and then springing into action when we have what s needed to start. Awhile back I was introduced to the acronym: NEWS. I m hopeful that we can put this into action. The letters simply stand for: Nurtured and Equipped to Witness and Serve. So, for the remainder of the year from now through Advent let s plan on spending our time together in worship or studies to make sure that we are all nurtured and equipped for ministry. Then, whenever the opportunity arises, let us reach out to our friends and neighbors with what we ve learned so they can see us witness and serve. When we ve done our part, let s see how God responds to our service in His Name. Peace and Blessings! Pastor Lee